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Karen Cantwell has a new Barbara Marr book out!!! And the introductory price is only 1 dollar for Saturday Night Cleaver!!!

And because I run The Coolest Blog on the block, I coerced Karen into doing an interview. She refused to reveal which authors she would have over for dinner (the poor woman can’t cook. I am convinced the mere idea of fixing dinner for important guests sent her running to the nearest caterer.) What we have here is…well, I think it might be evidence of what goes on inside an author’s head when she writes. That or Karen has taken talking to herself to a whole new level…

When Maria invited me to be on her blog, I was very excited, but also a little nervous. She said I could talk about the three authors I would invite to dinner, and while I love the question, I’m not the most exciting or interesting person in the world, so why would anyone care who I’d invite to dinner?

So I had an idea: talk to Barbara Marr – the protagonist in my Barbara Marr Murder Mysteries. She probably wouldn’t consider herself exciting or interesting either, but even she has to admit that she’s been caught up in some pretty exciting and dangerous adventures. I sat down with Barb over coffee and Oreos – and I have to say that she shocked me, her author, with the answers she gave. Leads me to wonder if Barb is really just a creation of my imagination or maybe something more…but that’s the subject of a different discussion altogether!

Karen: If you could invite any three people to dinner – famous, not famous, dead or alive – who would they be and what would you like to discuss with them?Barb: (dunks an Oreo in her coffee and laughs) I don’t have to think about that. I know right off the top of my head who they’d be.Karen: Great! Who’s the first person?Barb: George Lucas.Karen: Really? Not Meryl Streep?Barb: Nope, George Lucas. I need to understand two things. One: why, why, why did he continue with second and third movies in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy when the first was so hideously bad? *makes a pained face* Jar Jar Binks? What was he thinking? *shakes her head solemnly* Two: why, why, why did he sell Lucasfilm to Disney? Was he on crack? Blackmailed? Ate too much Chinese food the night before? I really need to know.Karen: Good answer. Who’s the second person you’d invite. Meryl Streep?Barb: Karen, would you try not to control this interview so tightly?Karen: Sorry.Barb: It’s okay. And no, not Meryl Streep. I’d invite Channing Tatum.Karen: Um…why?Barb: Exactly. Again – why? Why is Channing Tatum considered the sexiest man alive? I’m sorry, I saw Magic Mike and I don’t get it. I need some serious one-on-one time with this guy to see if I’m missing something, because otherwise, I have to say, I think Morely Safer is sexier. Heck, Howard, my husband, is sexier. Really. He looks like George Clooney you know.Karen: Yes, I know. You have a very handsome husband. We’re all jealous. Okay, I like that answer. So who’s the third person?Barb: You think it’s Meryl, don’t you?Karen: I was kind of hoping…Barb: *shakes her curl-topped head vehemently* No – do you want to know why?Karen: Tell me.Barb: Because I idolize her too much. I’d clam up the minute she walked in the door. Or worse, throw up. No, couldn’t take that chance. I’ll have to worship her from afar. *Pushes the plate of cookies away* No more of those or Howard will smell them on me.Karen: Fair enough – no Meryl Streep. Then who’s your third dinner guest? Steven Spielberg?Barb: Nah – he’s still alive, and, while the odds are still worse than winning the lottery, I could possibly meet him someday. Stranger things have happened. My life is proof of that. No, my third guest would be Stephanie Plum. Yeah, yeah, I know she’s a fictional character, but so am I, and darn it, I just have to know why, after all of these years she’s still having trouble paying her rent and no closer to marrying Morelli. Someone needs to have a serious talk with this woman and tell her to get her act together already.Karen: Well, thank you, Barb, this was fun. Should we do it again sometime?Barb: Sure! Can you bring pecan pie next time?Karen: Absolutely. And thank you, Maria, for having us!Barb: Yes, thank you, Maria!

Lol! Too funny! How dare Barb diss Channing Tatum??! And I love how she would invite Stephanie and ask her all the same questions I’ve been dying to know!! I devoured Saturday Night Cleaver in a day and I’m now re-reading the first 3 books! I needed a Barb fix 😉

Barb, I love your answers except maybe the Channing Tatum one. Come on, you can’t see why this guy is sexy? Have you had your eyes checked lately? I think that’s the only reason that makes sense to me because I’ll invite Channing over anytime!

Maria – I know you’re not a movie watcher, but Channing Tatum was in Magic Mike (a flick about a male stripper searching for more meaning in his life) and recently voted by People Magazine as The Sexiest Man of the Year. I know you’re just going to run right out and rent that video now…

Imagine that. A male stripper thinking there might be more meaning to life…let’s hope so!!! For one, he obviously needs a starring part in either a Sedona book or a Barbara Marr book. His life will not be complete until this happens. I am certain of it. No matter what he looks like.

Okay, he can have a role in one of our books, but only if it’s an eye candy role with very few lines – he’s not a very good actor. Who we really want (trust me on this one, Maria) is Ryan Gosling. He’s sexy AND he can act!